Resources: Sustainable Affordable Housing

GMF's curated list of tools to retrofit existing units or build new affordable housing

SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Our Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative supports local affordable housing providers in retrofitting existing units or constructing energy-efficient new builds. The initiative is open to municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and housing cooperatives looking to improve their communities with sustainable affordable housing.

This list of curated resources provides useful information on your affordable housing retrofit or new build. Learn more about:

the most effective and energy-efficient methods to make buildings more energy-efficient
various operations and maintenance recommendations for efficient buildings
the steps required to begin the retrofit of an existing multi-unit residential building
how to select different energy-efficient technologies for your housing project
energy-efficient methods to make buildings more sustainable
and much more

We will continue to update this page with additional resources as they become available.

Note: All files appear in the language in which they were provided and are organized by category: retrofits, new builds or both.

Understanding energy efficiency and resiliency

Retrofits and new builds: Understanding energy efficiency: A guide for affordable housing providers (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: Toolkit: Navigating energy-efficient affordable housing projects (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Why undertake energy-efficiency retrofits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: Keeping the Heat In (Natural Resources Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: Developer's Guide to Passive House Buildings (Passive House Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: A Guide for the Selection of Energy Efficiency Technologies (Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Forces)
Retrofits: Green Building Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Green Building Canada)
Retrofits: Heritage Buildings: Introduction (NAIMA Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: Energy Fundamentals (Save on Energy)
Retrofits and new builds: Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (Climate Ready Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: Climate Resilient Retrofits Resource Library (Climate Resilient Retrofits)
Retrofits and new builds: Smarter Homes for a Changing Climate (Climate Insight)
Retrofits and new builds: Climate Resilience Guide: Housing Design Catalogue (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])

Energy efficiency and resiliency measures

Retrofits and new builds: Project Cash Flow Calculator (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: Heat Pump Basics (Natural Resources Canada)
Retrofits and new builds: A Window into Energy Efficiency (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
Retrofits and new builds: Thermal Bridges — A Path to Energy Waste (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
Retrofits and new builds: Smart Thermostats: Technology Assessment and Field Test Findings in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
Retrofits: Harvesting Heat with Heat Pumps: Retrofit Guide for Ontario’s Electrically-Heated Multi-Family Buildings (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
Retrofits and new builds: Ventilation Strategies for High-Performance Multi-Units Residential Buildings (ZEBx)
Retrofits: Top 5 Energy-Saving Measures for Housing Co-ops (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
Retrofits: Heat Pump Retrofit Guide for Strata and Co-op Buildings (Green City Solutions with the City of Vancouver and H.W Flesher Housing Co-op)
Retrofits: Consumer Guide: Window and Door Replacement (BC Housing – Research Centre)
Retrofits: Decarbonization Roadmap for Multifamily Affordable Housing (Building Energy Exchange)
Retrofits: Canada's Home Electrification Toolkit (Building Decarbonization Alliance)
Retrofits: Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Save on Energy)

Getting inspired about energy efficiency and resiliency

New builds: Case study: Consultation and innovation improves performance (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
New builds: Case study: New build achieves financial sustainability, social and environmental benefits  (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Case study: Raising the bar on community housing retrofits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Case study: Brownfield redevelopment incorporates affordable housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Case study: Energy retrofit delivers multiple benefits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Case study: Sustainable homes, stronger community (FCM's Green Municipal Fund)
New builds: Webinar recording: Building for the future with better community housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Phasing out fossil fuels in community housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: How energy-efficient affordable housing is improving the lives of Canadians: Article series (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
New builds: Best Practices and Innovative Approaches to Energy Reduction in MURBs (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
New builds: Bois Ellen Co-operative Residence, Laval (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
Retrofits: Research Insight: Identification of Best Practices in Northern MURBs (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
Retrofits: First phase of a first-of-its-kind energy efficiency retrofit project completed at eight of WoodGreen Community Housing's buildings (WoodGreen)

Developing a business case for an energy-efficient and resilient retrofit

New builds: Planning high-performance affordable housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
New builds: Why build high-performance affordable housing? (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: Developing a business case for an energy-efficiency retrofit (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: How to undertake deep energy retrofits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
New builds and retrofits: Factsheet: Making the case for energy efficiency to your board and funders (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
New builds: Achieving High Performance Multi-unit Residential Buildings: The Opportunities (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
Retrofits: Research Insight: Comprehensive Retrofit of an Existing Multi-Unit Residential Building (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
Retrofits: The Case for Deep Retrofits (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
Retrofits: Robert Cooke Co-op Case Study: A TowerWise Retrofit Project (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
New builds: Video & Playbook: Low Carbon Energy Systems (ZEBx)
Retrofits: The Heights: Multi-Unit Residential Passive House (ZEBx)

Working with consultants

Retrofits and new builds: Funders list for sustainable affordable housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: Hiring + Working with Development Consultants: A Guide for Non-Profit Housing Providers (BC Non-Profit Housing Association [BCNPHA])
Retrofits and new builds: Question & Answers: Energy Audits (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
Retrofits and new builds: Toolkit for air source heat pump sizing and selection (Natural Resources Canada [NRCan])
Retrofits and new builds: Canadian Sustainable Energy Practitioner (CSEP) (CIET Canada)
New builds: Planning High-Performance Buildings (ZEBx)
Retrofits: Steps for Creating and Implementing an Energy Management Plan (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
Retrofits: Pre-Energy Audit Document Checklist (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
Retrofits: Find a Contractor (Clean BC and British Columbia)

Engaging residents in energy efficiency projects

Retrofits: Webinar recording: How housing providers can help residents during energy retrofits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: A Field Guide to Retrofits in Occupied Buildings (Tower Renewal Partnership)
Retrofits: Sustainability at Home: A Toolkit For Your Co-op (The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada)
Retrofits: Tenant Engagement Sustainability, Guide (BC Housing)
Retrofits: Tenant Engagement Sustainability, A Supplementary Guide (BC Housing)
Retrofits: Tenant Engagement on Sustainability, Facilitators Handbook (BC Housing)
Retrofits : ACORN Tenant Engagement Report – Retrofits (ACORN Canada)
Retrofits: Retrofitting with Tenants in Place (Pembina Institute)
Retrofits: H.W. Flesher Housing Co-op — Case Study (City of Vancouver and Greenest City)

Operations and maintenance

Retrofits and new builds: Factsheet: Get started on energy monitoring (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits: E-learning course: Building Operators Training (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
Retrofits and new builds: Building Emissions Accounting for Materials (BEAM) Estimator (Builders for Climate Action)
Retrofits: Guide to Building Condition Assessments and Reserve Fund Studies (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
Retrofits and new builds: RETScreen Clean Energy Management Software (Natural Resources Canada)

Developing affordable housing

New builds: Development for Nondevelopers (Urban Land Institute)
New builds: Pre-feasibility Framework (Simon Fraser University)
New builds: Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing (Rural Development Network)
New builds: Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) Training Modules (Infrastructure Institute)

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